It’s going to take collective action to reverse climate change, but there’s a lot we can do.

I recently read an article about something we as citizens — to our peril — have been ignoring: a tool we can use that’s getting a little rusty. Time to clean it up, sharpen it and put it to good use!

That tool is our money — where we invest and where we bank.

image courtesy of Pixabay

The easiest thing we can do is move our money to a credit union from a bank, if we haven’t already. Credit unions keep most of our money in our communities while banks fund things like fossil fuel companies and weapons manufacturers. This action is simple and effective.

The thing that’s a little harder is adjusting our investments and retirement plans. I’m not a financial advisor, but when the whole world is moving towards clean technologies, do fossil fuels seem like a good investment as they quickly become stranded assets? There are financial advisors who know how to invest in non-polluting areas, and seeking them out is worth it. When it comes to investments, business as usual is bad for our planet, our societies and our future — and most likely a losing proposition for our money.

Pension funds need to be lobbied to divest from polluting and harmful industries and invest in clean technologies instead, and that’s a group effort we need to take on. Pension funds are all about the future. It makes sense that they should empower a clean, green future, not one that causes harm. Lets do this!

When we put our money where our mouths are, we disempower polluters and strengthen industries that we support. It’s our money and up to us to put it to good use. We can eat lower on the food chain, drive less, and switch to clean energy, but lets not forget this vital tool.